Georgia Forensic Coaches Association 2nd Annual Varsity State Championships Westminster Schools Atlanta, GA March 9-10, 2012 Mario Herrera, Tournament Director Jenny Heidt, Tournament Host Richard Bracknell, Individual Events Tab Room Director John McClellan, Public Forum/Lincoln Douglas Debate Tab Room Director Jeffrey Miller, Policy Debate Tab Room Director Welcome to the 2nd Annual Varsity State Championships Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the 2012 GFCA Varsity State Championships! This letter comes to you after quite a bit of thought. Jeff Miller asked me to have the letter completed much sooner than he actually received it. I was, and am, unsure what to say. Should this be a “thank you” letter to the GFCA for allowing me to serve as president for the last two years? Should it be a “State of Debate” letter? Should I offer ideas, insights, reasons? Should it be formal and efficient? No. For those who are unaware, I have some shocking news.I used to work for Disney. I know, big surprise. I also am a huge fan of Disney animated films. The reason why I am, however, may surprise. I am NOT a huge fan of a Disney Happy Ending. They are predictable, syrupy and just too… Happy. Instead, I prefer the back story of those Disney films. I like the Disney formula that seems to work on audiences, even after 80 years. There is a struggle, an unexpected friendship, a reliance on truth and possibility, acknowledgement of personal hubris and doubt, a decision, moral culpability and, finally, a goal within reach. The next movie changes things a bit, but only slightly. And the formula is the same every single time, whether it be embraced by a hound dog, found by a lost boy, launched by a flying elephant or sung by a crooning cricket. You know that everything will be alright in the end, despite the travails along the way. I see my time as president in the GFCA as following that formula, at least I like to think it does. There was a struggle of a sort as we broke away from the GHSA. Meeting people from all over the state and finding new friends while growing existing ones was a wonderful experience. Acknowledging that differences in programs are not our weakness but our strengths as an association brought me some clarity. Deciding that it is time for the next leader to take the reins kept me real and humble. By realizing that the goals of such an organization are both personal and collective, much was accomplished by all. With the amount of intellectual capital in this state, we are bound for any number of happy endings. I am proud to be part of such an organization, and I thank you for sharing your thoughts, concerns, ideas and personalities. It has been a pleasure serving as your president for the last four years. The best of luck to all this weekend. I wish all of you continued success both during and after the tournament. Yours, Mario Herrera President Georgia Forensic Coaches Association GFCA Varsity State Championships Schedule As Always… It’s subject to change. Please do not leave campus. Friday March 9th, 2012 11:45-12:00pm Opening Assembly in McCain Chapel 12:15-2:15pm Debate – Round 1 2:30-4:30pm Debate – Round 2 4:00pm Extemp Prep in C 4:30-6:00pm Speech – Round 1 5:30-7:30pm Debate – Round 3 (High/Low off Round 2) 7:00pm Extemp Prep in C 7:30-9:00pm Speech – Round 2 8:00-10:00pm Debate – Round 4 (High/Low off Round 3) Saturday March 10th, 2012 7:30am Extemp Prep in C 8:00am-9:30am Speech – Round 3 9:30am-11:30am Debate – Round 5 (High/Low off Round 4) 10:30am Extemp Prep in C 11:00-12:30pm Speech – Round 4 12:30-2:00pm Public Forum Octofinals, Lincoln Douglas Quarterfinals 12:30-2:30pm Policy Octofinals 1:00pm Extemp Prep in C 1:00pm-2:30pm Speech – Round 5 2:30pm-4:00pm Public Forum Quarterfinals, Lincoln Douglas Semifinals 3:00pm-5:00pm Policy Quarterfinals 3:00pm Extemp Prep in C 3:30pm-5:00pm Impromptu and Prose/Poetry Semifinals; Finals in all other IE’s 4:15pm-5:15pm Public Forum Semifinals, Lincoln Douglas Finals 5:15pm-7:15pm Policy Semifinals 5:00pm-6:15pm Public Forum Finals 5:00pm-6:30pm Impromptu and Prose/Poetry Finals 7:30pm Awards Ceremony in McCain Chapel 8:30pm-10:30pm Policy Finals Saturday Lunch Provided By Newk’s Café http://www.newkscafe.com/index.php/locations/page/atlanta-brookhaven/ 2012 GFCA Coach of the Year Debate Coach of the Year: Bill Batterman, Woodward Academy Maggie Berthiaume, Woodward Academy Shunta Jordan, Pace Academy Ned Granville, Roswell High School Mario Herrera, Henry W. Grady High School Jeffrey Miller, Marist School Speech Coach of the Year: Bill Swafford, Lee County High School DeAnne Varitek, Central Gwinnett High School Past Winners 1983 Sandra Worthington Silvers Calhoun High School 1984 Martha Dye Lee County High School 1985 Bruce Rogers Northside High School 1986 Eric Brannen Westminster Schools 1987 Paula Nettles Woodward Academy 1988 Chuck Spurlock Pace Academy 1989 Richard Bracknell Carrollton High School 1990 Ted Carter Lee County High School 1991 Lionel Clark Pickens County High School 1992 John McClellan Warner Robins High School 1993 Leslie Watkins Brookwood High School 1994 Chris Wheatley Pace Academy 1995 Barbara Wilson Rome High School 1996 Phillip Wertz Thomas County Central High School 1997 Medgar Roberts Hart County High School 1998 Donald Rhodes Houston County High School 1999 Martha Kelley Dublin High School 2000 Chuck Heywood Lakeside High School 2001 Kenneth Grodd St. Pius X Catholic School 2002 Allan Hayes Trion High School 2003 Frank Seaver Woodward Academy 2004 Lisa Willoughby Henry W. Grady High School 2005 Adam Smiley Chattahoochee High School 2006 James Holt Camden County High School 2007 Lee Robinson Lincoln County High School 2008 Beth McMahon Milton High School 2009 Beverly Kelly Fayette County High School 2010 Jenny Heidt Westminster Schools 2011 Debate: Matt Bartula Sequoyah High School Speech: Mario Herrera Henry W. Grady High School The GFCA would like to honor those individuals who are retiring at the end of the 2011-2012 season Bill Swafford, Lee County HS: Mr. Swafford began his coaching career 43 years ago at Wheatridge High School, Colorado. Two days before the school year, he found out he was directing a speech and debate program. As a novice coach, he lead his top policy debate team to the State Runner Up title. He coached all throughout Colorado, Kentucky and Indiana before he made his way to Albany High School where he coached his oldest son to many successes. He then found himself at Lee County High School, where he was able to coach his younger son. Kyle Constable, one of his students, had this to say about Mr. Swafford: “Aside from my father, no other man has had such a significant impact in my life as Mr. Swafford. He has worked with me for countless hours after school, on weekends, and even over multiple summer breaks. Without his help and critiques, I would be nowhere near the public speaker I am today. Instead, I would still be the stumbling and bumbling freshman who had a propensity to talk too much. For having such an impact, I can never thank him enough. And even though he’s retiring this year, he still will remain committed to coaching the team and, hopefully, continuing to lead them to more victories across the state and country” Georgia Forensic Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame Inducted 1994 Inducted 1998 Inducted 2003 Chester Gibson George Mengert Sarah Finger Thomas Glenn Pelham Paula Nettles Sandra Worthington Silvers Melissa Maxcy Wade Inducted 2004 Inducted 1995 Inducted 1999 Helen McClellan Martha Dye Eric Brannen Inducted 2006 Jackson Farabee Ted Carter Ted Wolfe Gail Ingram Anne Duke Philip Wertz Inducted 1996 Inducted 2007 Inducted 2000 Elizabeth Hall-Vickery John McClellan Bruce Rogers Betty Maddox Mary “Lisa” Willoughby Paul Slappey Larry Moss Carlton Thomas Inducted 2010 Inducted 1997 Inducted 2001 Charles Heywood Charles Clark Lenalee Robinson Mickey Foreman Richard Bracknell Rich Edwards Inducted 2011 Leslie Watkins Jim Wade Inducted 2002 Chris Wheatley Georgia Forensic Coaches Association Cups of Excellence Recipients The Cups of Excellence Awards are given to the school in each size classification who qualified the most number of students to the State Championships. Each award is named after a GFCA Hall of Fame coach. Robinson Rewards donates these cups to the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association. Special thanks to Claude for his hard work on our trophies! Congratulations to the winners! Year School Name City Head Coach Helen McClellan Division (500 or fewer students) 2011 Lincoln County High School Lincolnton Lee Robinson 2012 Pace Academy Atlanta Shunta Jordan Sandra Silvers Division (500 – 1000 students) 2011 Lovett School Atlanta Ann Swartz 2012 Marist School Atlanta Jeffrey Miller Ted Wolf Division (1000 – 1500 students) 2011 Henry W. Grady High School Atlanta Mario Herrera 2012 Henry W. Grady High School Atlanta Mario Herrera Philip Wertz Division (1500 – 2000 students) 2011 Fayette County High School Fayetteville Jeffrey Miller 2012 Starr’s Mill High School Fayetteville Sean Hickey Leslie Watkins Division (2000 or more students) 2011 Alpharetta High School Alpharetta Amy Waldman 2012 Alpharetta Speech Team Alpharetta David Gay Be the First Ever Student Congress State Champion! Gwinnett Justice Center March 24, 2012 More Details will be on http://thegfca.org/congress Georgia Forensic Coaches Association N. Bruce Rogers President’s Cup The N. Bruce Roger’s Presidents Cup is a traveling Trophy Award given to the school with the highest number of rounds at the State Tournament.